Puck’s Tara Palmieri reports that despite rumors Sinema may not be running for re-election, she’s still actively fundraising from her corporate donors. Palmieri noted that Blackstone C.E.O. Steve Schwarzman recently hosted a fundraiser for Sinema at his house in Palm Beach, Yes, that Blackstone. (From Wikipedia: “Blackstone’s private equity business has been one of the largest investors in leveraged buyouts in the last three decades.”) Of course, Schwarzman owes Sinema a great deal of thanks after she protected the carried interest loophole in the Inflation Reduction Act.
According to Sinema’s most recent FEC filing, her campaign raised at least $311,100 from private equity donors, which was 38.7% of her total raised in the fourth quarter. Donations included $149,700 from Apollo Global Management, $63,800 from TPG, and at least $34,800 from Blackstone. Over the course of her career, Sinema has raised over $2.7 million from Wall Street.Sinema was also reportedly at the No Labels conference last weekend, which despite promoting itself as a bipartisan org actually raises its dark money from right-wing billionaires and has been caught doing Wall Street’s bidding. In the past, No Labels has praised Sinema for helping weaken President Biden’s initial Build Back Better plan and for obstructing tax increases on billionaires and corporations.
Despite her remaining coy about re-election, Sinema’s continued fundraising jaunts and meetings with special interests should put to rest any idea that she’s not running.
Meanwhile, Sinema also ran the Mesa marathon on Saturday. It’s no wonder she has no time to meet with constituents.
“If there’s one thing Kyrsten Sinema won’t stop actively pursuing, it’s more money to pad her campaign account. Between running marathons, trips to Switzerland, and raising money from Wall Street, it’s no wonder she’s the most unpopular politician in Arizona. She’s fundraising for a race where she’s bound to play spoiler, yet she can’t find time to hold a public town hall open to all of her constituents. Arizona deserves better leadership and it’s time we help them get it,” said Sacha Haworth, spokesperson for Replace Sinema.
###